Canyon Concert Ballet’s Artistic and Administrative Staff
Alicia Laumann
Artistic Director
Alicia Laumann is the Artistic Director of Canyon Concert Ballet where she has been on faculty since 2015. She received her high school diploma from the University of the North Carolina School of the Arts, her BA (summa cum laude) and her MFA in dance from the University of California, Irvine and her Pilates certification from the Pilates Center of Orange County. Alicia has participated in a variety of workshops over the last 15 years including: Bartenieff Fundamentals/ Laban Movement Analysis; release/contemporary technique from ODC in San Francisco and the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance; and, contact improvisation methods at P.O.R.C.H. in Berlin.
Prior to coming on board with CCB, Alicia taught primarily in an academic setting teaching studio courses in ballet, pointe, modern, Pilates, social dance forms, jazz, and movement for actors. She taught lecture courses in Dance History and Philosophy, choreography, and a Healthy Dancer topics course. Her work as an adjunct includes such schools as University of San Diego, Mira Costa College, Mt. San Antonio College, Fullerton College, and the Orange County School of the Arts, and the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia.
While a Visiting Professorship at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO, Alicia choreographed the Grand Junction Symphony’s production of The Nutcracker. Additionally, her work has been presented by various universities and colleges, Youth America Grand Prix in NYC, IMPACT Dance, the American Collegiate Dance Association, and of course, at CCB.
Alicia is a lover of dance history, a love that was fostered by her connection with historically great works and people. She has performed classics such as Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and Raymonda and George Balanchine’s Serenade and Concerto Barocco. As a graduate student she was Ballet Mistress for William Forsythe’s New Sleep and George Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie. Alicia received extensive teaching and mentoring by dance history icons Donald McKayle, who was among the first black men to break the racial barrier by means of modern dance, the late Balanchine ballerina, Melissa Hayden, and Alonzo King, who’s choreography is in renowned companies around the world. A particular highlight was dancing the lead role for Martha Graham’s seminal 1936 classic, Steps in the Street, for which she was coached by former Graham principal dancer, dance reconstructionist and historian, Bonnie Oda Homsey.
It is precisely because of this deep love of dance history and her eclectic education and training that Alicia enjoys working with children and adults — professionals and those who just enjoy dancing. She wishes to impart not only sound technique, but a love of the history of dance and the joy found in its practice.
Jenna Riedi
Executive Director
Born and raised in SE Wisconsin, Jenna Riedi graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BA in History, Religious Studies, and Classical Studies and from UW-Milwaukee with an MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. Before coming to Canyon Concert Ballet, she was previously the Director of Development & Marketing for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County. Jenna is heavily engaged in the Fort Collins community as a volunteer with both Fort Collins Cat Rescue and Animal House Dog Rescue, a member of the Larimer Chorale, a member of the Fort Collins Eyeopeners Kiwanis Club, and a graduate of Leadership Fort Collins (class of 2015-2016).
executivedirector@ccballet.org
Abby Behm
School Director
Bio coming soon!
Tessa Rehbein
Youth Ensemble Director
Tessa Rehbein is a Fort Collins native. She graduated with a BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona in Tucson, dancing under James Clouser, Amy Ernst, Douglas Nielsen Michael Williams, Tammy-Dyke Compton and Melissa Lowe. Tessa has since worked with renowned choreographers such as Peter Chu, Sidra Bell, Yin Yue, Summer Rhatigan, Joe Tremaine, Stacey Tookey and has performed Repertoire from Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Batsheva Dance Company, Nederlands Dans Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and excerpts from the Britney Spears “Piece of Me” tour.
Tessa spent a great deal of her time choreographing and teaching at studios in her free time during undergraduate studies. She finds tremendous joy in teaching young dancers and inspiring them to find their own artistic voice. Tessa has organized benefit concerts, performed in community service projects, music videos and assisted in the process of organizing the annual Jazz in AZ Dance Convention in Tucson and worked as a choreographer in residence at San Francisco Conservatory of Dance’s Summer Intensive,
In addition to dancing, Tessa teaches Barre Fitness classes at Perk! Pilates in Fort Collins. Apart from dance, she enjoys hiking, yoga and singing.
Dave Jacoby
Accompanist
David Jacoby is the Ballet and Modern Dance Accompanist for Canyon Concert Ballet. He is a richly talented multi-instrumentalist and composer currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado. With eighteen years’ experience in the field, David’s work includes serving as Director of the Modern Dance Division at Colorado State University, accompaniment for Colorado Ballet, University of Colorado, University of Wyoming, Reverence Academy of Dance, University of Montana, Kirov Academy of Dance, Pacific Northwest Ballet, NYC Ballet and others. David has also written music for two contemporary ballets by Canyon Concert Ballet, three Modern dance pieces that have premiered in Colorado State University’s Student Concerts, and Ballet 7220’s Alice in Wonderland that premiered at the University of Wyoming October 2010. His range of instrumentation includes drum set, percussion, piano, and bagpipes fromScotland, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Russia, as well as other world instruments. His most recent work includes accompanying for the Youth American Grand Prix at Colorado Ballet, Snowy Range Dance Festival at University of Wyoming, Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop and playing for Colorado Ballet’s Summer Intensive. David thanks his Higher Power for giving him the talent to express beauty through him for the world to enjoy.
Emma Gould
South Studio Office Assistant
Marisa Johnson
Bookkeeper
Sue Northburg
Office Manager & School Registrar
Jamelyn Peterson
Volunteer Coordinator
Mary Sullivan
Costume Mistress
